Close Pakistan 285 (Taufeeq Umar 75, Yousuf Youhana 63, Blignaut 5-79)
Scorecard

Pakistan squandered a solid start to collapse to 285 all out on the first day of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club. Zimbabwe's attack must rate as one of the most docile in Test cricket, but it was more than a match for a Pakistan side whose confidence is at rock bottom. The hero of the day for Zimbabwe was Andy Blignaut who took 5 for 79 in conditions which favoured the seamers.

Although the weather earlier in the week hinted that the rainy season had arrived a little early, the conditions were good although the pitch was damp underneath. That resulted in exaggerated sideways movement for the seam bowlers but for the first two sessions Zimbabwe's bowlers squandered the advantage winning the toss had given them. It was only towards the end of the day that they found their line and length, and Pakistan wilted. Blignaut, who returned his second Test five-for, was aided by some sharp close fielding and sloppy batting.

After being put in to bat, Pakistan lost Saleem Elahi for 2 in the third over to a sharp second-slip catch by Alistair Campbell but thereafter they pushed on with confidence as Zimbabwe's bowlers, especially Henry Olonga, struggled for any consistency. Taufeeq Umar set off at a pace, pulling and driving with ease as he raced to his fifty off just 54 balls. Thereafter he retreated into his shell and looked an altogether different player. With Younis Khan he added 155 for the second wicket before Younis cut Blignaut to Dion Ebrahim in the gully for 40 (122 for 2).

Two balls later Taufeeq's increasingly tortured 75 was ended by a sharp catch by Andy Flower at first slip (125 for 3), before Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana gradually began to assert themselves. Both had missed the recent series against Australia and although neither looked at their best, Zimbabwe's bowlers gave them too many loose balls, enabling them to find their touch.

But on the stroke of tea Inzamam miscued an attempted pull from another Olonga long-hop and skied the ball to substitute fielder Mark Vermeulen at mid-off. He had made 39 (217 for 4).

Zimbabwe's bowling improved after the break and Pakistan's batsmen grew frustrated. Yousuf, tied down for an hour, finally snapped and he missed an attempted wild swipe off Ray Price to fall leg-before for 63 (246 for 5). Then Kamran Akmal, making his debut in place of the injured Rashid Latif, was bowled for 0 shouldering arms to Price (251 for 6) and when Guy Whittall removed Saqlain Mushtaq for 2 (261 for 7) Pakistan were in freefall.

Zimbabwe took the new ball and Blignaut immediately trapped Waqar Younis leg-before for 2 (271 for 8) and had Shoaib Akhtar caught low at third slip by Grant Flower for 1 (274 for 9). Hasan Raza, who was almost the only player to come out of the series against Australia with his reputation enhanced, was the last man out in the final over of the day when he edged Blessing Mahwire to Campbell at second slip for 46.

With the pitch expected to get easier, Zimbabwe are in a good position to exploit Pakistan's fragility. But there will be some early movement tomorrow and the first session could decide the outcome of the game.

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